Choosing the Healthiest Flowers at the Nursery

By B. E. Conrad

Gardening has long been one of the most enjoyed, and most relaxing, of all hobbies, but the key to getting the new garden off to a great start is choosing the best possible plants and getting them off to a great start once they are home.

There are of course two ways to start those great flowers in the garden: starting directly from seed, or buying the seedlings from the local nursery or garden center. While many gardeners like to start their flowers directly from seed, others prefer to purchase seedlings. Starting from seed requires some specialized equipment, while starting from seedlings can be a lot easier.

While starting from pre-purchased seedlings can be a great deal easier than starting directly from seed, that will only be true if you are good at picking out the best possible seedlings at the garden center. Knowing how to recognize a good seedling and how to reject diseased specimens is essential to a healthy garden, so it pays to learn what to look for on your next trip to the nursery or garden center.

When looking through the various seedlings, for instance, it is essential to look for obvious problems such as holes on the leaves, wounds on the stems or signs of wilting. It is also important to look for problems like black spots, white spots and other signs of possible insect infestation or disease. Any plants that show signs of these problems should be rejected, since they could introduced a pest or disease problem to the garden if they are planted.

It is also important to pay careful attention to the care sheet that comes with each set of seedlings. Caring for the seedlings properly once they are in the ground is just as important as purchasing the healthiest specimens. Things like proper watering, sufficient feeding and the proper amount of sunlight can mean the difference between a well blooming garden and one that blooms poorly, so it definitely makes sense to give each plant what it needs to survive and thrive.

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